• GENRE: Drama, Science Fiction



• ACTORS: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Arliss Howard, Ron Livingston, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jane McLean, Brooklynn Proulx, Alex Ferris, Michelle Nolden, Tatum McCann, Hailey McCann
• RATING: PG-13
• PARENTAL NOTE: Not intended for young children. Brief nudity. Implied pre-marital sex. Although in a time traveling movie, it’s hard to say whether something technically happened before or after the characters were married. Some violence, but nothing extreme.
• INTENDED AUDIENCE: This movie has romance, which could please fans of that genre. It has science fiction, which could please those fans. Or it could be just enough of each element to alienate everyone.
• GENERAL PLOT: (No spoilers) A man travels through time, meeting his wife and his daughter along the way. You get one guess as to whether things will end well in this story line.






• REVIEW: As a general rule, people don’t want to know what lies in their future. Other than the next winning lottery number.[1. This time traveling cliche is put to use in The Time Traveler’s Wife] The concept of time travel is fascinating. The Time Traveler’s Wife actually plays the concept pretty reasonably and realistically–assuming you suspend the laws of nature and physics long enough to accept the concept that time travel is possible. For example, do you remember the campy 1960’s TV show called “The Time Tunnel?” The time traveling leading characters travel through TV time fully clothed. In fact, their clothing appears to be laundered, dry-cleaned and pressed as they bounce uncontrollably through time and space. Not so in The Time Traveler’s Wife. In fact the time traveler in this movie is stripped, and arrives at the end of his time travels completely naked. Too bad he never seems to time travel to his bathtub. I’m not sure this variation on the time traveling theme makes sense. But it does present a twist on the experience. Imagine being uncontrollably thrust into a foreign time and place wearing no clothes whatsoever.

  I’ve never seen a time traveling experience end well. And this film is no exception. It seems as though a time traveler ought to be able to avoid his downfall, by taking a little peek into the future, and then avoiding the danger that awaits. It seems like it–but it never quite ends this way.

• RECOMMENDATION: Actually, I liked the film, notwithstanding the “romance” factor mentioned above.[1. Come on Hollywood, how about a big budget movie about time traveling zombies?] The film makers obviously put some thought into making the non-sequential elements fit together. The “romance” part of the story line was a bit too sappy for my liking, but I’m sure it would appeal to some.
• RATING (out of 5 stars): ★★★★★

FOOTNOTES:

The discussion notes for breakfast on May 29, 2010 (”Prayer: Confession, Repentance and Forgiveness”) are now online. Join us, if you will, to consider the case of “Dave.” Dave’s life was in turmoil. And it had all happened so fast. Study verses: 1 John 1:7-10.

Now THAT’S entertainment! The Andrews Sisters introduced Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy in the 1941 Abbott and Costello film, Buck Privates. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.


ARTIST: The Andrews Sisters
TITLE: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

He was a famous trumpet man from old Chicago way
He had a boogie style that no one else could play
He was the top man at his craft
But then his number came up and he was gone with the draft
He’s in the army now, a-blowin’ reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam
It really brought him down, because he couldn’t jam
The Captain seemed to understand
Because the next day the Cap’ went out and drafted a band
And now the company jumps when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

A-toot a-toot, a-toot diddle-ee-ada-toot
He blows it eight to the bar – in boogie rhythm
He can’t blow a note unless the bass and guitar
Is playin’ with ‘im
He makes the company jump when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

He was the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
And when he plays boogie-woogie bugle
He’s as busy as a bzz bee
And when he plays he makes the company jump eight to the bar
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

Toot toot toot, toot diddle-ee-ada-toot-diddle-ee-ada, toot toot
He blows it eight to the bar
He can’t blow a note
If the bass and guitar isn’t with ‘im
A-and the company jumps when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

He puts the boys to sleep with boogie every night
And wakes them up the same way in the early bright
They clap their hands and stamp their feet
Because they know how he plays
When someone gives him a beat
He really breaks it up when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

Da-da, da-do-da-da
Da-da, da-do-da-da
Da-da, da-do-da-da
Da-da, da-do-da
A-and the company jumps when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B